6 years ago he was just phil505

Today is an anniversary of sorts for us. It's the anniversary of the day that the first email was sent. By me, murphy 596 of Ashland, Ohio, to phil505 of Portland, Oregon, on http://www.christian.matchmaker.com/. I still can't believe I did it. It was so out of character for me. I would share that email with you, but it's really embarrassing. Oh my gosh. It's just insane. I will tell you the title though and maybe you can picture in your mind the ridiculous contents. Are you ready for this? "Keep the Goatee." Yes, I know. How retardical (that's a word I made up). But hey, it worked for me! ha ha

I pulled it out of the folder the other day. I have the first couple months of our emails printed out and in a folder along with our online profiles and the pictures we had posted. I read it to Phil. I cracked up laughing through the whole thing. I said something to the effect of, "I can't even believe you responded, but I'm really, really, really glad you did."

I sort of owe it all to my sister, this whole meeting a man on the internet and getting married and moving 2,000 miles away. (Yes, Jenny, it's really your fault.) She was there when I was trying to decide if I was going to do it. I mean this was kinda sorta in the early days of internet dating services. Women were being taken advantage of by weirdos all across America. Why do you think I came up with the name Murphy? I wasn't about to put my real name on there. (For those of you who don't know, Murphy is the name of my sister's German shepherd!) I really wanted to send it, but she had to give me the kick in the pants that I so badly needed. She said (and I quote), "Just do it, Wendy! What have you got to lose?" She was right. Just do it. So I did. I emailed him. And I anxiously waited for a response. I didn't think I'd get one, but I did. And he said something like, "You're the second gal who's told me this week to keep my goatee and I'm not even taking a survey!" FUNNY!!!

So after six months of sending emails and letters and cards back and forth, and my own private investigative services, he finally called me in January. I was on CLOUD 9 for a long, long time! Then our phone bill jacked way up because we talked on the phone a lot. In April he flew out just after Easter for a visit. People at church went ballistic. Only 11 people, most of which were immediate family, even knew I was corresponding with him, and then I walk into church with Mr. Tall, Dark & Handsome! You can only imagine the response and interrogation we got that day. He flew back in June for my birthday. We picked out the ring. I flew to Portland in July. We got engaged. A few more visits back and forth, throw in a little premarital counseling, and then HERE COMES THE BRIDE (only I walked down the aisle to Trumpet Voluntaire played by the two snazziest trumpeters you'll ever hear). One week of honeymoon heaven in Florida, a very long ride in a moving truck across the country, 4 years of marital bliss later, and here we are!

And I am happy to report to you all, my faithful blog readers, that phil505 has listened to my advice and he still has his goatee. Which I love. But not nearly as much as I love him.

Happy email-aversary, babe!